Your Career Path
By Luke Wink-Moran
Photo Credit: ©adrian_ilie825 - stock.adobe.com
“People think career counseling is just about getting a job” said Ivette Merced, one of the Graduate Center’s career advisors. “But it’s so much more than that.”
Merced is a Ph.D. student in school psychology, a University Fellow, and a counselor with years of experience. She explained some of the challenges that graduate students, Ph.D.s, and postdocs face as they start their job search.
“Transitioning from school to the workforce is difficult,” Merced observed. “Unexpected emotions come up, you question your choices, sometimes you apply to multiple positions and don’t get any. It’s tough.”
That’s why, in addition to providing practical resources to students hoping to land their first job in academia, industry, government, business, or non-profit sectors, the Graduate Center offers customized career counseling sessions based on each student’s individual needs.
“It’s a very personal thing, which is why we respect confidentiality. Part of my job is to have the skills to give practical support and to be there for students while they go through this process,” said Merced.
To help students begin their search, the Graduate Center offers the “Career Forward Sprint” (Sprint) program. Sprint is an online, self-paced, 30-day program designed to help students successfully navigate the job search. The curriculum helps students identify or solidify their career interests, network and build professional profiles, draft application materials, and prepare for interviews.
“I recommend it to people who are just starting the job search and to those who have been searching for a while,” Merced said.
Students enrolled in the program receive an email from the Graduate Center every day for 30 days. Each email guides students through a task they need to complete in order to become a competitive job applicant. The tasks are not time-sensitive, and some take as little as 30 minutes to complete. “Busy grad students like it,” Merced noted. “Because they can go at their own pace.”
And if you don’t feel completely confident in your professional profile after completing the program, the Graduate Center’s personalized support can help you find the additional resources and support that you need. In fact, sometimes Sprint’s most important function is to help students discover which aspects of their professional identity might benefit from the attention of a professional career counselor.
“Some people are very independent; they just want a list of things to do. I can provide that,” said Merced. “If you just want me to email you links, I can do that. Other people want to talk through their thought process a little more—especially if they’re uncertain about what they really want to do. I can help with that too. And while we’re offering counseling support, we’re also providing useful and practical resources.”
The Graduate Center career counseling program is designed to benefit as many graduate students and interests as possible. It offers sessions in-person, over Zoom, on the Sprint D2L site, and via email. Whether attending UA online or in person, students can book a session and find the resources they need. The program accommodates new workplace norms like remote work and hybrid interaction.
No matter what your level of professional development or job search style, it’s important to remember that this process is emotionally charged. And that even when we feel isolated or uncertain, we can still be on the right track.
“Graduate students are graduate students because they’re driven,” said Merced. “They think, ‘I need to do this right.’ And I’m like, ‘You are doing it right. It’s just hard.’ I remind them that, ‘you’re doing everything you can. This is how it feels.’”
For expert and compassionate assistance with the next step in your job search process, check out Graduate Center career services at gradcenter.arizona.edu/career-support.